For hundreds of years the people of Spain have celebrated a religious holiday with music, dancing and the running of the bulls. The Festival of San Fermin - known as the Pamplona Bull Running - takes place every year from July 6th to 14th.
World Party
Running of the Bulls
This festival is a tradition that dates back to the 13th century. At first only the people of Spain celebrated, but people from other countries started showing up in the 17th century as everyone from around the world heard about this great party.
Novel News
Running of the Bulls
When a famous writer named Earnest Hemmingway wrote a story based on the running of the bulls, the popularity of the event skyrocketed. The name of that story is called “The Sun Also Rises." The book was sold all over the world and everyone wanted to see this crazy event called The Running of the Bulls.
Run for Fun or to be Done
The running of the bulls takes place every morning from July 6-14. A rocket is shot into the air at 8 a.m. when they open the gates to the pen where the bulls are waiting. Bulls, weighing over 1,500 pounds each, come charging into the narrow street where people (only men) run ahead of them. Everybody else watches from the sidelines or from a balcony as the “runners” dodge the angry bulls.
Running of the Bulls
The run goes for less than one mile along three or four different narrow, cobblestoned streets and into a stadium where the bulls are fought by professional bullfighters.
Chaos and Cruelty
Running of the Bulls
It might be exciting… people obviously think it’s fun… but every year runners get hurt, people die and each day of the festival six bulls are killed intentionally. This event really shows how cruel people are whether you are running with the bulls, fighting them or even just watching to support the event.
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